Change the Ref Information

Change The Ref (CTR) is a youth-led movement formed in 2018 by Manuel and Patricia Oliver following the tragic loss of their son, Joaquin "Guac" Oliver, in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Rather than relying on traditional advocacy, CTR uses creativity, culture, and nonviolent disruption to challenge America's response to gun violence and mobilize action for stronger gun safety laws. Over the past seven years, CTR has collaborated with leading creative agencies, artists, filmmakers, brands, and activists to create unforgettable interventions. These high-impact campaigns have generated global media coverage, influenced public discourse, reached the halls of Congress, and kept gun violence at the forefront of the national conversation. Collectively, Change The Ref’s powerful campaigns have won +35 Cannes Lions and hundreds of international creative awards, making it one of the most creatively recognized advocacy organizations of the last decade. Our Mission: Change The Ref believes that if lawmakers refuse to act, culture must. Our work transforms raw grief into strategic action, using disruptive creativity to make the human cost of gun violence impossible to ignore—fighting for a future where no family has to experience what the Oliver family endured. Awarded +35 Cannes Lions and hundreds of global honors, CTR is one of the most creatively recognized advocacy groups of the decade. Our disruptive work brings raw grief into the cultural spotlight to demand change. - Key Cultural Interventions - The Lost Class (9 Cannes Lions) - The Final Exam (7 Cannes Lions) - The Unfinished Votes (3 Cannes Lions) - 30 Under 30: The Magazine That Shouldn't Exist - The Bathbomb Sonflower Recognized by D&AD, One Show, Clio, Webby, Effies, and Fast Company. If lawmakers refuse to act, culture must. Learn more at changetheref.org.